elunia

I would say this is a potential weak spot. I know someone (doing PhD at CUNY in physical anthro) who said he didn't get in the first time around, but he hadn't spoken to any profs at the programs he applied to. He made a point of meeting some of them the second time around, and got in. I made sure to go meet profs in person if at all possible. I even flew to a couple schools to visit before apps were due, because they suggested it, and it seems to have made a difference, because I got into those programs. I know that isn't cheap, but it might make a difference. (They will generally find grad students you can stay with while there, so it's mostly the plane tickets that cost.)

Look for field schools and field opportunities here: http://archaeological.org/ If you go as a "volunteer" rather than a student (on a dig that isn't a field school) you will most likely only have to pay travel, room and board, and not tuition. EDIT: Here's the direct link: http://archaeological.org/fieldwork/afob

My first acceptance (for one of my top schools) came quite early, I guess because I'd visited the school before apps were due and therefore didn't have to be interviewed. I had an email from my POI asking for a phone conversation, which I agreed to, thinking it would be an interview, or that he had some questions for me. Later I was meeting with someone at work and had to excuse myself to take the call, and he told me I had gotten in!! I was so surprised I thought I'd misheard him at first. After hanging up, I did a happy dance alone in my office, called my parents, sister, and boyfriend, and then went back to my meeting. I didn't run around telling everyone because I kind of just wanted to keep it to myself and quietly enjoy it, but later I started telling people and I was so flattered at how happy they were for me. I was on a cloud for a few days!

I had a prof who charged students $5 if their phones went off in class, and then gave it to charity. I thought it was a good solution, and it only happened about twice a semester. This is a tough thread, I think I'll miss most stuff here! But I won't miss: a 9-5 job, commuting at rush hour, NYC prices, slushy cold winters. But I WILL miss: my boyfriend, my family, my friends, my co-workers, NYC! I'm actually so bummed about moving away it's putting a damper on my enthusiasm for going off to school, though it's what I've wanted for so long....

I am planning to start a PhD in the fall with a focus on bioarchaeology (so I will be in a physical anthro program). My particular interest is in health and disease, and I want to have the freedom to take my research into modern health issues. Several of the schools I am looking at offer the possibility of a joint MPH/PhD for anthro students. Most of the people who take advantage of this seem to be med anth/cultural anthro students, but I think it might work well paired with a degree in physical anthro. I'm concerned about funding for this and also how it will fit into my PhD course of study, or how it might delay completion of this degree. But, it might also mean I had more options when it comes time to look for a job. Any thoughts? Thanks!

New York is great for non-drivers (I live here now, will be leaving for grad school and am dreading having to deal with owning a car!). Look into museum studies at Columbia. I knew a bunch of them when I was an undergrad there, and the resources for internships and actual museum work are unparalleled. I was an archaeology undergrad and I had 3 museum internships during my time there.

UNCAnthro, what track will you be doing? I'm considering this department as well!

Zouvax, Is this a Master's program? If it's only two years then this seems like a wonderful adventure to have together! It's not such a long time, though definitely the challenges you mention are real. Best of luck!

Thanks for your post, Future SLP. It's good to know I'm not the only one. We've also been living together for about 3 years, and we'll definitely be at least a short plane flight apart, if not trans-Atlantic. But I've also heard of people making it work, so I'm hopeful!

This is an interesting thread for me. My mom is in clinical psych, and she told me ALL the women who interview at her program come in identical black or gray pants suits. So I wore a black pants suit (with sensible heels) to all my pre-application visits and official interviews, but since I'm applying in physical anthropology, I was repeatedly the only one in a suit! I only met one man and one other woman (tho she was applying to MD/PhD programs) in full-on suits. So I felt over-dressed, but I kept wearing the suit because I feel like it's better to err on the side of looking "too" professional (definitely wouldn't go the tennis-shoe route, though I did have a few co-interviewees who did!) In the end it worked out, and I'm taking it down a notch (business casual) for accepted student visits.

My bf has been extremely supportive throughout the process. However, because of his career, he's probably going to have to stay in NYC (where we live now). I did get into a school here, but there are programs outside the city that are probably a better fit for me in terms of interests and advisor. Also, since I'm leaving NY anyway, he has started looking for jobs in other financial capitals (i.e. in Germany, because he's a dual citizen). Half of me hopes he'll change his mind at the last minute and move with me, but the other half believes that it's important we both do what's best for ourselves at this point in our lives. (Several people have mentioned possible resentment 5 years down the line....) We'll try to make it work long-distance, and it's not forever, right? Unfortunately this worry about living so far apart is putting something of a damper on my excitement about starting grad school, but I'm hoping that will change as it gets closer to the fall!